John Peter Featherston (November 28, 1830 – 1917) was the mayor of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, from 1874 to 1875.[1]

John Peter Featherston
9th Mayor of Ottawa
In office
1874–1875
Preceded byEugène Martineau
Succeeded byG. B. Lyon-Fellowes
Personal details
BornNovember 28, 1830
Durham, County Durham
Died1917
Ottawa
Political partyLiberal
SpouseBessie Featherstone

Born in Durham, England, in 1830, he came to Canada in 1858. Upon settling in Ottawa, he opened a drug store. In 1867 he was elected to city council, and in 1879 was appointed clerk and registrar for the Carleton County court. He served as chairman of the board for the Ottawa Collegiate Institute, and ran unsuccessfully to represent the City of Ottawa in the federal parliament in an 1877 by-election. Featherston was a District Deputy Grand Master of the Freemasons.

Very little is known about Featherston, other than that he was a Liberal politician, and that he wired Richard Scott (later Sir Richard William Scott, K.C., P.C.) in 1871 advising him to enter the Liberal government. Later that year Scott became speaker of the legislature.

Family

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Mrs Bessie Featherstone by William James Topley

In 1871 John Peter Featherston married Bessie Parnell, daughter of John Parnell, of County Wicklow, Ireland. She was born in Dublin, and accompanied her parents to Canada. She volunteered with the Carleton Protestant Hospital, the Maternity Hospital, the Lady Stanley Institute, and the Ottawa Humane Society. She served as president of the Ladies' Auxiliary for the Carleton Protestant Hospital. Her residence as Lady Mayoress was 452 Rideau Street, Ottawa.[2]

Electoral history

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1875 Ontario general election: Ottawa
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel John O'Donoghue 852 35.35 −34.37
Liberal J. P. Featherston 800 33.20 −36.53
Conservative John O'Connor 758 31.45  
Total valid votes 2,410 54.25
Eligible voters 4,442
Liberal hold Swing −34.37
Source: Elections Ontario[3]

References

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  1. ^ Dave Mullington "Chain of Office: Biographic Sketches of Ottawa's Mayors (1847-1948)" (Renfrew, Ontario: General Store Publishing House, 2005)
  2. ^ Morgan, Henry James, ed. (1903). Types of Canadian Women and of Women who are or have been Connected with Canada. Toronto: Williams Briggs. p. 114.
  3. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1875. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
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Preceded by Mayor of Ottawa
1874-1875
Succeeded by